2014 Seattle Mariners: Best- and worst-case scenarios

The beginning of baseball season is here, bringing with it the hopes and expectations for fans of every team. The Seattle Mariners have struggled to contend in recent years, but a new superstar in Robinson Cano and some intriguing young talent has some fans wondering if we could see an improved squad this season.

In the spirit of Opening Day, we put together a list of the best- and worst-case outcomes for some of the 2014 Mariners’ key storylines. Scroll through our gallery to see the most extreme results — good or bad — that could materialize as the season gets underway Monday.

<p><b>Robinson Cano</b></p>
<p><b>Best case</b></p> Seattle’s prized acquisition performs at an MVP level for his new club, hitting .330 with 30 home runs and providing the team with the offensive production it has sorely lacked in recent years. Cano boosts the performance of the entire club and attracts other marquee free agents to join the franchise. Also, inspired after being forced to watch “Field of Dreams” by new manager Lloyd McClendon, Cano runs full speed on every routine infield grounder from now until the end of his career, permanently freeing himself from any potential controversy regarding his lack of hustle. </p> less

<p><b>Robinson Cano</b></p>
<p><b>Best case</b></p> Seattle’s prized acquisition performs at an MVP level for his new club, hitting .330 with 30 home runs and providing the team with the offensive ... more

Photo: Lisa Blumenfeld / Getty Images

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<p><b>Robinson Cano</b></p>
<p><b>Worst case</p></b> <p>Cano is not only unable to match his past levels of production, but he becomes actively detrimental to the success of the team. His $240 million contract becomes a legendary bust. In a bizarre PR move, Cano also announces through his agent that in the interest of preserving the health of his knees, he will now stroll backwards at a brisk but casual pace to first base on every ball that he manages to put in play, infuriating Mariners fans and baseball purists everywhere.</p> less

<p><b>Robinson Cano</b></p>
<p><b>Worst case</p></b> <p>Cano is not only unable to match his past levels of production, but he becomes actively detrimental to the success of the team. His $240 million ... more

Photo: Lisa Blumenfeld / Getty Images

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<b><p>Dustin Ackley, Justin Smoak, Jesus Montero, Michael Saunders</p></b>
<p><b>Best case</p></b> <p>All of the above are finally able to tap into their potential simultaneously. A slimmed-down and motivated Jesus Montero is called back up to the majors and thrives, hitting 25 homers and shedding the “bust” label that has dogged him since he was acquired. Smoak and Ackley become elite, everyday players.</p> less

<b><p>Dustin Ackley, Justin Smoak, Jesus Montero, Michael Saunders</p></b>
<p><b>Best case</p></b> <p>All of the above are finally able to tap into their potential simultaneously. A slimmed-down and motivated ... more

Photo: Otto Greule Jr / Getty Images

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<b><p>Dustin Ackley, Justin Smoak, Jesus Montero, Michael Saunders</p></b><p><b>Worst case</p></b> In a controversial move, Montero signs a lucrative new sponsorship deal with McDonalds, gains 47 pounds, and promptly retires from baseball. Smoak and Ackley somehow manage to regress, combining to bat .218 with 4 homers and 12 RBIs. After an underwhelming first half, Saunders is traded to the Texas Rangers at the All-Star break and hits .419 with 19 dingers in the second half while leading Texas to the American League pennant.</p> less

<p><b>Young guns</b></p><p><b>Worst case</p></b> <p>Walker and Paxton are unable to translate their potential as major leaguers, getting shelled by opposing hitters, and are optioned back to Triple-A. Bitter about losing the starting shortstop job and going back the minors, a disgruntled and potentially mentally unstable Nick Franklin storms into the Seattle clubhouse and incites a massive locker room brawl that injures and sidelines Miller and Zunino for much of the season. Franklin is subsequently traded to the Yankees where he uses his motivation at being slighted by Seattle to become a superstar and supplant Cano as the top second baseman in the game.</p> less

<p><b>Young guns</b></p><p><b>Worst case</p></b> <p>Walker and Paxton are unable to translate their potential as major leaguers, getting shelled by opposing hitters, and are optioned back to Triple-A. Bitter ... more

Photo: Christian Petersen / Getty Images

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<b><p>First base/designated hitter</p></b>
<p><b>Best case</p></b> <p>Logan Morrison, Justin Smoak and Corey Hart combine to form the most lethal position platoon in baseball. Smoak and Morrison live up to their billing as once big-time prospects, while Hart regains the All-Star form he possessed before he was slowed by injuries. A position that seemed to be a logjammed question mark at the beginning of the season suddenly becomes a strength of the team and propels Seattle into A.L. West contention.</p> less

<b><p>First base/designated hitter</p></b>
<p><b>Best case</p></b> <p>Logan Morrison, Justin Smoak and Corey Hart combine to form the most lethal position platoon in baseball. Smoak and Morrison live up to ... more

Photo: Gregg Forwerck / Getty Images

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<b><p>First base/designated</p></b><p><b>Worst case</b></p> Smoak, Morrison and Hart are unable to find any traction offensively, combining to hit only .189 through the first half of the season. With the production coming at such an excruciatingly low rate, McClendon tries to shake things up with an unorthodox move, deciding that it would actually be more beneficial for the team to play out the rest of the year without a first baseman. Seattle plays out the remainder with only eight position players, putting the team at a supreme competitive disadvantage on both sides of the ball and causing the Mariners to lose 139 games.</p> less

<b><p>First base/designated</p></b><p><b>Worst case</b></p> Smoak, Morrison and Hart are unable to find any traction offensively, combining to hit only .189 through the first half of the season. With the ... more

Photo: Otto Greule Jr / Getty Images

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<p><b>The future of Jack Z</p></b>
<p><b>Best case</b></p> The oft-criticized Seattle general manager is validated after every roster move he made this offseason pays off to the maximum extent, leading to the Mariners winning 107 games and taking the A.L. West crown. After he wins it for the next six years in row, the Sporting News officially renames its annual “Executive of the Year” award the “Jack Zdueriencik Respect and Appreciation” award, endearing the GM to Mariners fans and cementing his place as the savior of Seattle baseball.</p> less

<p><b>The future of Jack Z</p></b>
<p><b>Best case</b></p> The oft-criticized Seattle general manager is validated after every roster move he made this offseason pays off to the maximum extent, leading to the ... more

Photo: Otto Greule Jr / Getty Images

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<p><b>The future of Jack Z</p></b><p><b>Worst case</p></b> <p>After all of his signings and draft picks fail to perform to expectations, Jack Z inexplicably signs an 11-year contract extension to run the team. In a well-intentioned but misguided attempt at making another free-agent splash, he gives former Mariner pitcher Jamie Moyer, 51, an eight-year, $162 million deal, bringing him out of retirement to try and shore up the pitching staff. The Mariners are doomed to financial ruin and baseball irrelevance for the next decade.</p> less

<p><b>The future of Jack Z</p></b><p><b>Worst case</p></b> <p>After all of his signings and draft picks fail to perform to expectations, Jack Z inexplicably signs an 11-year contract extension to run the team. ... more

Photo: Otto Greule Jr / Getty Images

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<p><b>Pitching staff</p></b>
<p><b>Best case</p></b>
<p>Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma retain their status as one of the most feared one-two punches in the game, combining to win 33 games with a 1.89 ERA. Their performance, combined with the youthful emergence of Paxton and Walker, propels the Seattle pitching staff to the top of the American League. The dominance makes up for some minor offensive shortcomings and Seattle rides its pitching into the postseason.</p> less

<p><b>Pitching staff</p></b>
<p><b>Best case</p></b>
<p>Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma retain their status as one of the most feared one-two punches in the game, combining to win 33 games with a 1.89 ... more

Photo: Christian Petersen / Getty Images

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<p><b>Pitching staff</p></b><p><b>Worst case</p></b>
<p>Iwakuma is unable to match his effectiveness of a season ago, going 8-11 with a 4.98 ERA. Hernandez continues to dominate, but a lackluster supporting cast causes the team to once again miss the playoffs. Exasperated and disheartened with the lack of run support, he demands a trade. Zduriencik ships King Felix to the Yankees in exchange for shortstop Derek Jeter, somehow unaware that Jeter is retiring at the end of the season.</p> less

<p><b>Pitching staff</p></b><p><b>Worst case</p></b>
<p>Iwakuma is unable to match his effectiveness of a season ago, going 8-11 with a 4.98 ERA. Hernandez continues to dominate, but a lackluster supporting ... more